One… PS: Third watch delivered… “……” “Look at that fellow; everyone else is terrified of being eliminated with a single misstep, yet he has the leisure to look around.” “So many people have already employed their Heart Visions, but he’s just sitting there. It seems his cultivation is quite profound, perhaps a whole tier above the others.” “That might not be true.

They are all under forty; no matter how high their cultivation, it can’t be that extraordinary. Perhaps he is using some special method to resist the leaves of Mu Jinzhu’s ‘Jade Snow Emperor Flame Tree’ Heart Vision.” “Tsk, tsk, it seems this fellow has a high probability of becoming the consort to Princess Qingying.

What a shame!” “…… After the leaves of Mu Jinzhu’s “Jade Snow Emperor Flame Tree” descended, everyone’s gaze settled upon the twenty individuals in the center of the arena. Subsequently, as the young men who could no longer endure began to collapse, the cluster of figures grew sparser, allowing the onlookers to see each person’s movements more clearly.

Seeing Nie Kong acting as if completely unaffected, looking left and right, everyone couldn't help but murmur in astonishment. On the high platform, although Mu Qingying’s expression was obscured by her veil, the excitement in her beautiful eyes was undeniable.

She leaned on Mu Qingyi’s arm, smiling brightly, “Mother, I told you he could do it. Look at him; among so many people, he appears the most relaxed.” “Hmm.” Mu Qingyi nodded with a smile, patting Mu Qingying’s shoulder.

While Nie Kong’s performance was eye-catching, it wasn't enough to truly startle a powerhouse like Mu Qingyi. After all, in this first trial, Mu Jinzhu hadn’t even exerted one percent of his true strength.

Withstanding the leaves of his Heart Vision was hardly something worth excessive praise; it merely suggested he was slightly stronger than the young men around him. But for Mu Qingying, the significance was entirely different.

While other men were struggling just to hold on, the man she admired was at ease. While others were exerting their full power, the man she favored hadn't even mobilized his Heart Vision yet—didn’t this precisely confirm her excellent judgment?

Mu Qingying’s smile deepened, her pair of watery eyes seemingly glued to Nie Kong. Seeing her dearly raised daughter transform like this for a man, Mu Qingyi let out a quiet sigh, suddenly feeling a pang of loss.

However, as soon as this feeling arose, Mu Qingyi couldn't help but shake her head and chuckle, “Qingying, don’t celebrate too soon. This is only the first test.” Mu Qingying, completely oblivious to the subtle shift in her mother’s emotions, remained confidently cheerful, smiling sweetly, “Mother, he will definitely pass the next two trials too.” “I hope so!” Mu Qingyi offered a slight smile, her expression returning to calm serenity.

“Thud!” “Thud!” “……” Sounds of falling figures echoed in succession. Before long, only ten individuals remained standing in the center of the arena.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of Mu Yanzhu’s lips; with just a flicker of thought, the massive leaf of the “Jade Snow Emperor Flame Tree” rapidly contracted, instantly vanishing back into his body. “Hoo!” The sensation of alternating heat and cold finally ceased.

Nie Kong let out a soft breath, quietly interrupting the “Solar Spirit Devouring Art,” and the spiritual aperture within his body quieted down. In stark contrast to his ease, the other nine young men, after retracting their Heart Visions, looked utterly spent.

They sprawled out, too lethargic to even twitch a finger, as if recovering from a severe illness, their eyes vacant and listless, their faces etched with undisguised exhaustion. Mu Qingyi turned to the Lord of Dongwu City, Mu Yaotung, and spoke, “Yaotung, it’s up to you now.” “En!” Mu Yaotung let out a soft snort.

A hint of sacred purity laced the smile blooming on her face. She gracefully stepped forward a few paces, arriving at the edge of the high platform.

Her fingers brushed across her brow, and a streak of clear blue light shot out, abruptly manifesting above the heads of Nie Kong and the remaining ten contestants. The other nine men had wearily closed their eyes; only Nie Kong still possessed the energy to look up.

The Heart Vision of the Lord of Dongwu City turned out to be a cerulean medicinal herb, strikingly similar in appearance to the common little cabbage from Nie Kong’s previous life. Its leaves were layered, shimmering with blue light, as if crystal dew was flowing within.

Nie Kong quickly searched his memory but couldn't recall any herb that corresponded to it. “Boom!” Suddenly, the herb Heart Vision exploded outwards.

Blue leaves detached one by one, transforming into a shower of light that sprinkled onto the young men on the ground. Even Nie Kong was bathed in this azure glow.

The moment the blue light enveloped him, Nie Kong felt as if he were floating in a hot spring, utterly refreshed, to the point where the small amount of spiritual power he had expended was completely restored. Nie Kong looked at the nine other young men and saw they had all sat up.

The fatigue throughout their bodies seemed to have vanished in an instant. Several even jumped up and swung their fists a few times with spirited energy, their bodies once again brimming with strength.

“What a miraculous Heart Vision!” This herb Heart Vision could actually be used for recovery; perhaps Mu Yaotung’s herb Heart Vision possessed many other similar functions. Nie Kong’s mind raced with curiosity, but just as he was about to observe further, the herb Heart Vision retreated back into Mu Yaotung’s body.

Nie Kong could only withdraw his gaze and look towards the approaching Mu Jinzhu. “This first trial tested your Heart Visions, and all ten of you have passed.

The next is the second trial.” Mu Jinzhu swept his gaze over the ten men, smiling faintly, “This second trial will test your self-control. I have prepared an Illusion of Temptation, manufactured by imitating the Realm of Temptation.

If you can pass it, you will proceed to the third trial. Be prepared.” The Illusion of Temptation… Everyone had heard something about what the Realm of Temptation was like, so they could easily imagine the situations they might face upon entering an illusion modeled after it.

As soon as Mu Jinzhu finished speaking, several of the young men’s complexions changed instantly. Their eyes flickered, showing expressions as if they wished to speak but hesitated.

“The consort of Princess Qianying absolutely cannot be a man mired in lecherous desires. If you feel you lack the self-control to pass the illusion, you may choose to withdraw now, lest you lose control inside the illusion and bring shame upon yourselves.” Mu Jinzhu’s smile vanished, his voice exceptionally flat, “This second trial does not limit the number of successful participants.

If all pass, all proceed to the third trial. If only two pass, then two advance.

And if only one succeeds… he will be the consort of Princess Qingying.” “I…” A handsome young man suddenly stammered. Seeing Mu Jinzhu’s gaze turn toward him, he finally gritted his teeth and uttered, “‘“I withdraw!” After forcing out those two syllables, the young man sagged like a punctured balloon and listlessly walked towards the edge of the arena.

“Who else wishes to withdraw?” Seeing that the remaining nine young men remained silent, Mu Jinzhu nodded, “Very good. Since no one else is withdrawing, the second trial begins now.” Saying this, Mu Jinzhu beckoned toward the edge of the high platform.

Over a dozen imposing guards emerged, each carrying a wide slab of jade stone. When the eight jade slabs were arranged and connected in the center of the arena, the patterns on their surfaces suddenly came alive, and a cloud of pink mist began to rise, swirling faintly.

Vaguely, figures of seductive allure could be seen twisting like spirit snakes. “Enter!” Mu Jinzhu waved his hand, and the nine young men filed in.

The moment Nie Kong stepped across the threshold, the scene before him drastically changed. The jade stones vanished, the pink mist disappeared, and the writhing seductive figures within the mist were gone too.

What appeared before Nie Kong’s eyes was an exquisite, small, powder-pink bedroom, filled with an intoxicating fragrance that caressed his nostrils. Since it was an illusion, this scent was likely just seasoning, incapable of the same mind-clouding power as the substance he once refined for Long Xuechan.

Indeed, after inhaling the scent, the little fellow showed no reaction, and Nie Kong’s body exhibited no abnormalities. “……” An instant later, a long, soul-stirring moan suddenly rang out.

Hearing this sound, a stirring arose within Nie Kong. He was slightly startled; this Illusion of Temptation was indeed potent, capable of ensnaring the mind through hearing alone, even without visual input.

If one were to seal off their hearing, the illusion might even directly affect the mind. Before Nie Kong could recover, the moan sounded again, becoming increasingly rapid and alluringly seductive… Time gradually passed.

Nie Kong had long since settled into a cross-legged position. As he had initially suspected, even after closing off his hearing, the sound continued to reverberate in his mind.

After enduring for so long, Nie Kong’s breathing grew heavy, his blood surged, and his face turned as crimson as blood. Outside the illusion, bursts of laughter erupted sporadically around the venue.

In the eyes of the onlookers, the scene inside the illusion was entirely different. When the nine men stepped in, the ball of pink mist retracted into the jade stones.

However, the patterns on the jade surface then burst forth with brilliant light, coiling and circling around the nine figures like threads of silk. The faces of the nine men caught within the illusion became clearly visible to the crowd after the mist dissipated.

In a very short time, all nine figures settled into a seated position. At first, they all managed to remain still, but as time wore on, some began to shift restlessly, as if sitting on pins and needles.

“Ha!” Suddenly, unrestrained laughter exploded over the arena. It came from a young man who had leaped up, comically tearing at the clothes on his body.

However, before the man could succeed, a streak of white light swung out from Mu Jinzhu’s hand like a torrent, sweeping that individual out of the illusion. Stunned for a while outside, the young man finally awoke, leaving with a face full of shame.

Gradually, more and more young men inside the Illusion of Temptation began to gesticulate wildly. In just a few short minutes, the number of those swept out of the jade stones by Mu Jinzhu reached five.

Watching the men successively retreat, the surrounding crowd erupted in continuous waves of laughter. “What a miscalculation!

Testing self-control with an illusion is nothing compared to using real people. If the Sect Master agreed to change the method to this, Sister would sign up first.” “Heh heh, you dream too sweetly.

Even if the Sect Master agreed, Princess Qingying would never agree to let you take advantage of her future consort, would she?”